Author: Nahapetian Samvel

CIS military exercises start in Tajikistan
Avesta web site
2 Apr 05
Dushanbe, 2 April: The Rubezh-2005 joint command and staff exercises
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO; members are
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia]
member states started in Dushanbe today, the head of the Tajik Defence
Ministry press service, Zarobiddin Sirojev, has told Avesta.
He said that Tajik Defence Minister Col-Gen Sherali Khayrulloyev, who
is overseeing the exercises, had delivered a speech at an official
ceremony to open the Rubezh-2005 joint command and staff exercises of
the CSTO member states.
Sirojev noted that the exercises would be held in three phases. The
first phase is planned to include the efficient deployment of the
command and headquarters of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces in
the Central Asian region (CRDF). The second phase will see the
planning of the use of the collective forces during joint
operations. In the third phase, which will include field firing
tactical exercises at the Eshak Maydon [south of the Tajik capital]
firing range, CRDF subunits will work on managing the forces and means
of the collective security system and the units and subunits of Tajik
ministries and departments.
The Tajik leadership, the defence ministers of the CSTO member states,
[representatives from] the CIS antiterrorist centre and the CSTO
secretary-general, Nikolay Bordyuzha, will observe the final stage of
the drills set for 6 April.
The main purpose of the exercises is to approve the main provisions
and recommendations to adopt and implement joint decisions on using
the forces and means of the collective security of the CSTO member
states; and to check the accuracy of operational and tactical
calculations on deployment of the forces and means of the collective
security system, and on the amount of military and technical
assistance to be provided to Tajikistan and the period for which this
is provided.

Armenian premier sets out principles of Karabakh settlement
Arminfo
2 Apr 05
YEREVAN
Internal stability and economic growth in Armenia are the main
guarantees of finding a fair and peaceful solution to the Karabakh
conflict, the leader of the Republican Party of Armenia [RPA], Prime
Minister Andranik Markaryan, told a meeting dedicated to the 15th
anniversary of the RPA today.
Markaryan said that from now on, the RPA will insist on five principles
of resolving the conflict. The party insists that Stepanakert’s
subordination to Baku should be ruled out, the safety of the people of
Karabakh should be guaranteed, Nagornyy Karabakh should not remain an
enclave, the Karabakh conflict should not be resolved by changing
Armenia’s borders and Stepanakert should be included in the peace
process.

FORMATION OF CHAMBER OF LAWYERS OF ARMENIA MAY TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS
YEREVAN, APRIL 1. ARMINFO. The formation of the Chamber of Lawyers of
Armenia may be delayed for several weeks, says Levon Bagdassaryan
Armenian lawyer supporting the recently elected president of the
chamber Yenok Azaryan.
He says that the election and the post-election disputes have shown
that it is early yet to from such a body in Armenia. Meanwhile the law
on advocacy says that new chamber should be formed within two months
after president election.
To remind, Yenok Azaryan was elected chamber president by 181 votes
with his opponent Ruben Saakyan polling 174 votes. Later Saakyan
disputed the results of the voting claiming numerous violations and
saying that voting were 15 people having no such right. The case is
being considered by the Center – Nork Marash court. Bagdassaryan says
that if the voting results are invalidated “first there will be no
chamber of lawyers and second we will fail to meet the law requirement
for 2 month deadline for new chamber formation.” Bagdassaryan says
that he has no intention to file a counter-appeal against Saakyan.
To remind, the law on advocacy took force Feb 1 20
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF SYRIA PLAYS PROMINENT ROLE IN LIFE OF COUNTRY,
ARAB TRIBE LEADERS POINT OUT
YEREVAN, APRIL 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The 12 tribe leaders from the
north-eastern Syrian region of Al Jazzira have had meetings in Armenia
with the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence,
Agriculture, Health, Labor and Social Security, with representatives
of the National Assembly factions, as well as with students of the
Oriental Science Department of Yerevan State University. At the April
1 meeting with reporters, they stated that before returning to Syria
on April 3, the sheikhs will meet with Syrian students currentlly
studying in Yerevan, visit the town of Abovian with a large number of
repatriates from Syria, as well as Holy Echmiadzin where they will be
received by Catholicos. According to the head of the delegation of the
Beria diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Zhirayr Reisian, the
purpose of this visit organized at the initiative of the Armenian
community of Aleppo is to pay homage once again to the leaders of the
tribes that provided shelter to the Armenians who had survived the
genocide and reached the Syrian land, and to give them an opportunity
to become acquainted with Armenia and the Armenian people. Sheikh of
Bagard El Jabal tribe Abdul Suahab Isa Suleiman noted that the
Armenian community of Syria plays a prominent role in the country’s
social, economic and political life, with the Armenian deputies always
being included in the Syrian parliament. Sheikh of Harb tribe Hasan
Ubeit Al Khalil called on all the states and international
organizations to reconsider their approach to the Armenian genocide
and to meet the just demands of the Armenian people. According to
Sheikh Nauaf Al Bashir, two peoples in the Middle East were the
victims of the genocides – Armenians and Jews. The Armenians continue
to express their gratitude to the Arab people even now – 90 years
after the genocide, whereas Zionists repay good with violence. He
expressed hope that the Armenian people who has a long history and is
gifted with creative abilities will reconstruct its Homeland in a
short period of time and achieve well-being and prosperity.

ARMENIANS HAVE AT STORE COUNTER EVIDENCE TO WARD OFF AZERIS
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian parliament member Mher
Shahgeldian, who is also the head of Armenian delegation to NATO
Parliamentary Assembly said today Armenian delegates have at store a
set of “compelling arguments,” which they could apply to ward off
Azerbaijani delegation’s attempts should they try to raise the Nagorno
Karabagh problem at a May 27-31 session of the Assembly in Slovenia’s
capital Ljubljana.
The head of Azerbaijani delegation to NATO PA Ziyafat Askerov was
reported earlier to say that they were going to raise this issue at
NATO PA session to seek its assessment of the conflict.

Armenian defence minister, NATO chief praise ties
Mediamax news agency
31 Mar 05
YEREVAN
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said in Yerevan today that
“relations between Armenia and NATO are rapidly developing, which is
very useful for our country”.
Sarkisyan said this at a meeting with the NATO assistant secretary
general for political affairs [and security policy], Gunther
Altenburg, Mediamax reported.
During the meeting, Altenburg thanked the Armenian minister for
Yerevan’s active participation in the fight against international
terrorism.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING PROBLEM OF NAGORNY KARABAKH TO BE HELD IN
MOSCOW ON MAY 16-17
YEREVAN, MARCH 30. ARMINFO. On May 16-17 in Moscow the Foreign
Political Association of Russia, Association of Russian diplomats and
World Peace-Keeping Association will hold the third discussions
concerning the problem of Nagorny Karabakh. Former Cochairman of OSCE
Minsk Group for settlement of the Karabakh conflict Vladmir Kazimirov
stated during the hearings on Nagorny Karabakh held at Armenian
parliament.
Vladimir Kazimirov also expressed an opinion that Armenia is not the
guarantor of security of NKR, but a third party of the conflict. “I
cannot change this point of view. It’s another matter that Armenia,
declaring itself a guarantor of the security of NKR, may squeeze out
of the international community the maximum in order to resign from
this role – in exchange for provision of guarantees by the
international community”, the former cochairman said. Speaking about
the question of the status, he mentioned if it is not solved by
negotiations, then it will be possible to solve it by conducting a
repeated referendum of independence in the NKR territory. “As regards
the participation of representatives of the Azerbaijani community of
Nagorny Karabakh in the referendum, then the simple arithmetic shows
that their participation will not have an influence of the results of
the referendum”, Vladimir Kazimirov added. He stressed the importance
of manifestation of constructive activity in resolution to the
conflict by all the parties.
In his turn, Serge Sargsian, Defence Minister of Armenia, Secretary of
National Security Council of the president, appealed to Vladimir
Kazimirov with a request to use his contacts with Foreign Ministry of
Russia in order to attract the attention of the OSCE Minsk Group to
the document signed in 1995 concerning the terms of establishment of
the cease-fire regime, where the positions of the armed forces of the
parties in that period are fixed. “Let the cochairmen and
international community understand who violates the documents,
cease-fire regime and pushes ahead its positions. It’s high time to
focus on these problems”, Serge Sargsian stressed.

Zaman, Turkey
March 30 2005
Swiss FM to Turkey: Confront Your Past
By Suleyman Kurt
Published: Wednesday 30, 2005
zaman.com
In response to Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey’s comments
that Turkey should confront its past over the so-called Armenian
genocide, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said that,
“Turkey is sure of its past.”
Gul disclosed on Tuesday that the invitation to examine the Ottoman
archives is also open to France and Switzerland. Minister Gul asked
Rey not to allow the Armenian Diaspora to ruin the relations between
the two countries in a meeting in Ankara. The National Assembly of
the Swiss parliament had decided to recognize the Armenian genocide
two years ago, and following this, Rey’s visit to Ankara had been
postponed. The Swiss Minister is also reported to have excluded the
Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) from a list of terrorist organizations.
Meanwhile, 90 members of the US Congress have called on US President
George W. Bush to recognize the allegations of Armenian genocide on
April 24th, which is considered by Armenians as the anniversary of
the alleged genocide.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 30 2005
Azeri, Armenian presidents to meet in Moscow

Baku, March 29, AssA-Irada
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian
will discuss the Upper Garabagh conflict in Moscow, Speaker Murtuz
Alasgarov told a session of the Milli Majlis (parliament) on Tuesday.
The meeting will take place within the events dedicated to the 60th
anniversary of World War II due in the Russian capital, Alasgarov
said.*

PanArmenian News
March 28 2005
16-TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ENTITLED `IMMORTAL HERITAGE OF
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’ TO BE HELD IN LOS ANGELES APRIL 1-3
28.03.2005 04:33
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 16-th international conference entitled
`Immortal Heritage of Armenian Genocide’ will be held in Los Angeles
April 1-3 within the frames of International Conference on Armenology
organized by the University of California, Los Angeles, IA Regnum
reports. The event is dedicated to the 90-th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. Scientists from Argentina, Armenia, France,
Lebanon, Syria and the US are expected to take part in the
conference. Armenia will be presented by Karen Khachatrian and Anahit
Khosroyeva (Institute of History), Raffi K. Hovannisian (Armenian
Center for National and International Studies) and Tigran Matosian
(Institute-Museum of the Armenian Genocide).